16/06/2026
The University of Sargodha (UOS) achieved another significant milestone as its faculty members received national recognition from the Higher Education Commission (HEC) for outstanding research accomplishments, including inclusion in Stanford University’s Global Top 2% Scientists List 2025 and the award of highly competitive NRPU research grants. The national recognition comes on the heels of the University of Sargodha’s recent achievement of securing a place among the top three public sector universities in Punjab and the top nine public sector universities in Pakistan in the HEC Annual University Rankings 2024–25, reflecting the institution’s growing prominence in research, innovation, and academic excellence.
The honours were conferred during a prestigious ceremony held at the Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab, Lahore. The event was attended by Punjab Minister for Higher Education Rana Sikandar Hayat, HEC Chairman Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, PHEC Chairman Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Vice Chancellor University of Sargodha Prof. Dr. Qaisar Abbas, and vice chancellors from universities across the country.
Among the University of Sargodha faculty members featured in Stanford University’s Global Top 2% Scientists List 2025 are Prof. Dr. Farooq Anwar and Dr. Muhammad Imran Irfan from the Institute of Chemistry; Prof. Dr. Muhammad Nawaz Tahir, Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq, and Dr. Naveed Ahmed Noor from the Department of Physics; Dr. Naseer Abbas Khan from MFK Noon Business School; Prof. Dr. Muhammad Usman Minhas from the Department of Pharmacy; Prof. Dr. Zafar Iqbal Khan from Department of Botany; and Dr. Muhammad Asam Riaz, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ather Nadeem, and Dr. Muhammad Arif from the College of Agriculture.
The university also earned distinction through the success of its researchers under HEC’s National Research Program for Universities (NRPU). Prof. Dr. Ahmad Raza Bilal, Director ORIC, Dr. Misbah Hussain, from Bio Technology, and Dr. Iram Hafiz of the Institute of Chemistry were recognized for securing competitive research grants aimed at advancing scientific inquiry and innovation.
Speaking on the occasion, academic leaders emphasized the vital role of research in strengthening Pakistan’s knowledge economy and fostering innovation-driven development. The ceremony highlighted the significance of supporting faculty-led research through competitive grants and national recognition.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Qaisar Abbas congratulated the award recipients and termed their achievements a matter of pride for the university. He said the recognition reflects the dedication of UOS faculty towards high-quality research and reaffirms the university’s commitment to addressing national and global challenges through scholarship and innovation.
The latest honours further strengthen the University of Sargodha’s status as an emerging research-intensive institution and a leading contributor to Pakistan’s higher education landscape.
